The CSO is modernizing and simplifying access to official data through the Redatam software platform.
The Central Statistical Office (CSO) is strengthening public access to national statistics with the rollout of an upgraded Redatam platform, giving users dynamic, real- time access to census and survey microdata.
The CSO is modernizing and simplifying access to official data through the Redatam software platform. Redatam, a Spanish term meaning “retrieval of data for small areas,” is an internationally developed system designed to make census and survey information more accessible, interactive, and user-friendly.
Information Systems Manager at the CSO, Burt Collymore, described Redatam as a powerful dissemination tool that enables users to access and manipulate census microdata to generate customized tables and analysis instantly without the need to submit formal requests to the Statistical Office.
“Redatam is an application designed by CELADE, the Population Division of ECLAC the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. The software was developed in Chile and has been widely used across the Caribbean for the dissemination of census and survey data, including surveys of living conditions,” Collymore explained.
According to Collymore, the upgraded platform represents a significant shift in how official statistics are shared with the public. Rather than waiting for staff to prepare specific tables or reports, users can now dynamically generate their own statistics online. This streamlined process benefits researchers, policymakers, students, businesses, and other stakeholders by saving time and increasing efficiency.
The Redatam platform allows users to explore a wide range of data captured during the 2022 Population and Housing Census, including:
- Demographic profiles by district
- Socio-economic indicators
- Agriculture and tourism data
- Health statistics
- Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators
- Other key census variables
“We can generate data on demographics based on different districts, examine socio-economic activities across communities, and access agriculture, tourism, and other census indicators,”
Collymore noted. “It is one of the main tools we use to communicate with the public, giving them ease of access and greater flexibility in using the data.”
Redatam has been used across the Caribbean for several years. Saint Lucia has now upgraded to the latest version of the software to host data from the 2022 Population and Housing Census.
This initiative aligns with international best practices in data dissemination, including standards encouraged by PARIS21, which promotes improved access, transparency, and utility of official statistics.
The upgraded system is expected to enhance transparency, support evidence-based decision- making, and empower citizens through improved access to reliable national data.
The Redatam platform is available free of charge via the CSO’s website at stats.gov.lc.